Bolt with concealed safety cable

ABSTRACT

A door securing bolt movable by a single knob to open, locked and safety positions. In the safety position the bolt is engaged with a cable concealed in the door jamb, the cable allowing limited opening of the door and retracting automatically when the door is closed. In one form the safety cable is incorporated in a slide bolt with an added rotary action for engaging the cable. In another form the cable is attached to a knob which is movable along a slot to the three specific positions.

HJnited States Patent [1 1 (Iarey BOLT WITH CONCEALED SAFETY CABLE John R. Carey, 1996 Milford PL, El Cajon, Calif. 92020 Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 Appl. No.: 297,603

Inventor:

US. Cl. 292/57, 292/262 Int. Cl. E05c 5/02, E050 17/04 Field of Search 292/57, 58, 59, 264, 263,

292/262, DIG. 65; 70/93 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1935 Reiner 292/264 11/1926 Wreelock 292/58 X 7/1960 Reiner 70/93 Mar. 19, 1974 2.200.627 5/1935 Levy 292/262 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrown & Martin 5 7 ABSTRACT A door securing bolt movable by a single knob to open, locked and safety positions. In the safety position the bolt is engaged with a cable concealed in the door jamb, the cable allowing limited opening of the door and retracting automatically when the door is closed. In one form the safety cable is incorporated in a slide bolt with an added rotary action for engaging the cable. In another form the cable is attached to a knob which is movable along a slot to the three specific positions.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEDM 1 9 :974

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BOLT WITH CONCEALED SAFETY CABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One security device commonly used in apartments and dwellings is the safety chain latch, which allows for limited opening of a door for observation of a caller. The chain is secured at one end to a bracket on the door jamb and the other end has a fitting which engages in a slotted retainer on the door. The chain device is additional to any other lock or bolt and requires additional operation. Also, when used frequently, or when the door is held with any force, the chain tends to damage the edge of the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The security device described herein uses a cable rather than a chain to limit opening of a door to a security position. the cable being self-retracting into a concealed position in the door jamb when not in use. The device has a single knob which is movable to open. locked and security positions. In a preferred form, the knob operates a slide bolt between open and locked positions. the bolt also having a rotary motion to engage and disengage the safety cable in the locked position. within the enclosed bolt receiving socket. The bolt can be used as a conventional slide bolt to lock the door.

' and is engaged in the limited opening security position by merely depressing the knob. To admit a caller the door is closed, the knob lifted and the slide bolt retracted, the cable being automatically concealed and disconnected.

In another form the knob is attached to the cable and is slidable along a slot between confronting retaining fittings on the door and jamb. The knob is secured or released in any of the three positions by a slight twisting action.

The primary object of this invention. therefore. is to provide a new and improved bolt with a concealed safety cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bolt which is positioned by a single knob to open, locked and security positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bolt incorporating a safety cable which is normally concealed in the door jamb.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved slide bolt having means for engaging and disengaging the safety cable by operation of the single knob. 1

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and an examination of the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout and in which BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of the slide bolt form of the structure.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the slide bolt configuration illustrated in FIGS. 16, the structure comprises a bolt unit for mounting on a door 12, and a retainer or socket unit 14 for installation in the door jamb 16. The bolt unit 10 has a cylindrical barrel l8 fixed to a mounting plate 20, which is secured on the face of door 12 with the major portion of the barrel recessed in the door. Mounting plate has an end plate portion 22 which wraps around the edge of the door for strength, the barrel 18 opening through the end plate. Slidably mounted in barrel l8'is a bolt 24, the barrel having a longitudinal slot 26 to clear a pin 28 extending radially from the bolt. Mounted on pin 28 is a knob 30, which is biased toward the barrel by a spring 32 concealed in the knob. At the end adjacent the edge of the door, the slot 26 has a rotationally offset portion 34, forming an L- shaped slot. which allows the bolt to be rotated slightly. As illustrated, the slot 26 is along the upper portion of the exposed barrel and the offset portion 34 extends downwardly. To facilitate setting the knob at the three significant positions, the slot has recesses to receive the base of the spring biased knob. A recess 36 at the end of slot 26 remote from the door edge holds the knob with the bolt in open position. At the junction of the slot and its offset portion 34, a recess 38 holds the knob with the bolt in locked position. and a recess 40 at the base of the offset portion sets the bolt in the security position.

Socket unit 14 comprises a short cylindrical socket 42 to-receive the end of bolt 24. The socket is fixed in a mounting plate 44 which is secured on the face of jamb l6, and is integral with a cover plate 46 which seats on the inside face of the jamb and covers a shallow cavity 48 cut in the jamb. Part of the exposed portion of socket 42 is separated to provide a removable cap 50.

A latch pin 52 fixed to cap extends diametrically across socket 42 and is secured in a connecting sleeve 54, which passes through an opening 56 in the socket. Fixed to the sleeve 54 is a short length of flexible steel cable 58. The other end of cable 58 is secured to a guide arm 60, which is pivoted on a hinge bolt 62 fixed to cover plate 46 below the socket. Within the cavity 48, the cable 58 tends to form an are between the sleeve 54 and arm 60, when the arm is extending downwardly.

The end of bolt 24 which protrudes from barrel 18 has a reduced thickness portion with parallel flat faces 64, and an open ended diagonal slot 66 extending between the faces. The two portions of the bolt separated by slot 66 have lugs 68 with undercut notches 70. When pin 28 is in the slot 26, slot 66 is aligned with latch pin 52, as in FIG. 6, and the bolt can slide in and out of socket 42 in a normal manner. When the knob 30 is depressed in the locked position, the bolt 24 is rotated and lugs 68 latch over the latch pin 52 which is held in notches 70, as in FIGS. 3 and 5. In this position the reduced portion of bolt 24 is aligned with and can pass through opening 56. Thus when the door is opened, the cap 50 is pulled out of socket 42 and cable 58 extends through the opening 56, as in the broken line position in FIG. 1. Arm 60 swings up to strike the rear of socket 42 and acts as a stop to limit the extension of cable 58, to hold the door in the security positlOIl.

When the door is closed the cable has sufficient stiffness to be pushed back into cavity 48, and follows arm 60 down into the retracted position. By lifting knob 30 the bolt is returned to locked position, the full diameter of the bolt being too large to pass through opening 56. Engagement and disengagement of the security cable and bolt is thus accomplished by a simple movement of knob 30, offset from the normal sliding bolt action. The cable is completely concealed when not in use and extends only through the metal structure of the bolt assembly, so damage to the surrounding woodwork is eliminated.

The alternative form of the structure illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 comprises a bolt unit 72 on door 74 and a socket unit 76 on jamb 78. Bolt unit 72 has a mounting plate 80 which seats on the face of the door and an end plate portion 82 inset in the edge of the door. The bolt 84 is a fixed extension of mounting plate 80 and, in closed position. overlies the adjacent face of jamb 78. Socket unit 76 has a retaining plate 86 which seats on the face of the jamb. and a cover plate 88 enclosing a cavity 90 in the jamb.

In the door closed position, bolt 84 is immediately below and coplanar with retaining plate 86. Bolt 84 has a slot 92 open at the top and extending downwardly. Retaining plate 86 has a corresponding slot 94 open at the lower end and extending upwardly, in alignment with slot 92. .In cavity 90 is a security cable 96 fixed to a guide arm 98 which swings on a hinge bolt 100. The other end of the cable is connected by a sleeve 102 to a latch pin 104. which protrudes through slots 92 and 94, the latch pin being threaded to receive a knob 106. The threads on latch pin 104 can be of suitable pitch that a slight turn is sufficient to tighten or loosen the knob.

As in the slide bolt structure, a single knob is moved to three positions to operate the door. In the locked position, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the knob 106 is centered over both the bolt 84 and retaining plate 86, clamping both against sleeve 102 and preventing the door from opening. When the knob is lifted, with latch pin 104 at the top of slot 94, as in broken line in FIG. 9, the bolt 84 is free and the door can be opened. In the security position illustrated in FIG. 9, knob 106 is depressed and latch pin 104 is at the bottom of slot 92. Cable 96 is thus connected to bolt 84 and limits the opening of the door. When the door is closed the cable automatically retracts into cavity 90.

In each instance, operation of a single knob provides open, locked, or security conditions for a door, the concealed mechanism being adaptable to most swing door configurations.

Having described my invention, I now claim:

1. A bolt assembly. comprising,

a bolt unit having means for attachment to a door,

a socket unit having means for attachment to a door at least one of said units having an elongated slot,

a knob slidably mounted for movement to three positions along said slot,

an arm pivotally mounted in said socket unit,

a cable having one end secured to said arm and being extensible from the socket unit, said arm comprising a stop for limiting extension of the cable,

said knob having retaining means for engaging the other end of said cable at one of said positions, and for coupling said bolt unit and socket unit together at a second of said positions, and for uncoupling the bolt and socket units at a third of said positions.

2. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said other end of the cable has a latch pin fixed thereto for engagement by said retaining means.

3. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bolt unit includes a cylindrical barrel having said slot therein, and a bolt slidably mounted in said barrel, said knob being connected to the bolt through the slot,

and said socket unit having a cylindrical socket element to receive the end of said bolt.

4. A bolt assembly according to claim 3, wherein said other end of the cable has a latch pin fixed thereto and passing through said socket element,

and said bolt having a slotted end for engagement over the latch pin.

5. A bolt assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elongated slot has a rotationally offset portion to receive said knob,

and the slotted end of said bolt having notched lugs for locked engagement with said latch pin in one rotated position.

6. A bolt assembly according to claim 5, wherein a portion of said socket element is separate and comprises a cap fixed to said latch pin,

and the slotted end of said bolt having a reduced thickness, in said one rotated position, to pass through the opening left by said cap.

7. A bolt assembly according to claim 6, wherein said elongated slot and offset portion have recessed detents at the ends and at the junction thereof, corresponding to the said three positions of the knob,

and said knob being biased to seat in said detents.

8. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bolt unit has a bolt portion extending beyond the door, the bolt portion having an upwardly opening slot,

said socket unit having a plate portion with a downwardly opening slot confronting the slot in the bolt portion in the door closed position, and forming therewith said elongated slot,

said knob being securable in the slot on said bolt portion and on said plate portion, and'at an intermediate position bridging the bolt and plate portions.

9\A bolt assembly according to claim l,and including a connecting sleeve fixed to said other end of the tively between said sleeve and the knob. 

1. A bolt assembly, comprising, a bolt unit having means for attachment to a door, a socket unit having means for attachment to a door jamb, at least one of said units having an elongated slot, a knob slidably mounted for movement to three positions along said slot, an arm pivotally mounted in said socket unit, a cable having one end secured to said arm and being extensible from the socket unit, said arm comprising a stop for limiting extension of the cable, said knob having retaining means for engaging the other end of said cable at one of said positions, and for coupling said bolt unit and socket unit together at a second of said positions, and for uncoupling the bolt and socket units at a third of said positions.
 2. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said other end of the cable has a latch pin fixed thereto for engagement by said retaining means.
 3. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bolt unit includes a cylindrical barrel having said slot therein, and a bolt slidably mounted in said barrel, said knob being connected to the bolt through the slot, and said socket unit having a cylindrical socket element to receive the end of said bolt.
 4. A bolt assembly according to claim 3, wherein said other end of the cable has a latch pin fixed thereto and passing through said socket element, and said bolt having a slotted end for engagement over the latch pin.
 5. A bolt assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elongated slot has a rotationally offset portion to receive said knob, and the slotted end of said bolt having notched lugS for locked engagement with said latch pin in one rotated position.
 6. A bolt assembly according to claim 5, wherein a portion of said socket element is separate and comprises a cap fixed to said latch pin, and the slotted end of said bolt having a reduced thickness, in said one rotated position, to pass through the opening left by said cap.
 7. A bolt assembly according to claim 6, wherein said elongated slot and offset portion have recessed detents at the ends and at the junction thereof, corresponding to the said three positions of the knob, and said knob being biased to seat in said detents.
 8. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, wherein said bolt unit has a bolt portion extending beyond the door, the bolt portion having an upwardly opening slot, said socket unit having a plate portion with a downwardly opening slot confronting the slot in the bolt portion in the door closed position, and forming therewith said elongated slot, said knob being securable in the slot on said bolt portion and on said plate portion, and at an intermediate position bridging the bolt and plate portions.
 9. A bolt assembly according to claim 1, and including a connecting sleeve fixed to said other end of the cable, and a latch pin fixed in the sleeve, said latch pin having a threaded portion extending through said elongated slot, and said knob being threaded on said threaded portion to clamp said bolt and plate portions selectively between said sleeve and the knob. 